14 DAY TRIAL // Smokers who are trying to kick the habit often find themselves in a position where they have to deal with the so-called triggers. These can be smoking-related images in the media, other smokers, or habits usually associated with smoking (a cup of coffee, catching up with an old friend, and so on and so forth). A new study comes to show that these triggers can be avoided and cravings curbed with some exercise, as Eurekalert can confirm.
A bout of moderate-intensity exercise seems to be able to do that which the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) only does in part: reduce cravings and eliminate temptation. Moreover, the study has learned, it does so by going straight to the root of the problem by making the cigarette less attractive for the smoker who’s trying to quit. Participants in the study – all moderately heavy smokers who abstained for 15 hours before the test – have all showed less attraction towards smoking-related images after a mild bout of exercise.
“While the participants were shown the images, the research team used the latest eye tracking technology to measure and record their precise eye movements. They were able to show not only the length of time people looked at smoking-related images but also how quickly pictures of cigarettes could grab their attention, compared with non-smoking matched images. Numerous studies have shown that a single session of light to moderate intensity exercise, for example five-15 minutes of brisk walking, can reduce cravings and responses to smoking cues.” Eurekalert says of the findings of the study.
This discovery can be essential to the development of new anti-smoking programs, as well as of programs meant to help those who decide to quit. Moreover, 15 minutes on the stationary bike at a moderate speed seems to be enough to curb cravings under an acceptable limit, where temptation is no longer the issue, researchers have learned. What remains now to be determined is whether more exercise time at a higher intensity will have even better results in terms of making cigarettes less attractive and glamorous to smokers.
“We know that smoking-related images can be powerful triggers for smokers who are abstaining. While we are no longer faced with advertisements for cigarettes, smokers are still faced with seeing people smoking on television, in photographs or in person. We know that this makes it more difficult for them to quit. Because of this, it’s very exciting to find that just a short burst of exercise can somewhat reduce the power of such images. It is not clear if longer or more vigorous bouts of exercise have a bigger effect. This study adds to the growing evidence that exercise can be a great help for people trying to give up smoking.” University of Exeter PhD student Kate Janse Van Rensburg, lead author of the study, says.